5.10. Use of Prepositions in Spanish: Prepositions after adjectives and nouns

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The correct use of prepositions in Spanish is essential to achieve fluency in the language. Prepositions are words that connect elements within a sentence, such as nouns, pronouns, verbs and adjectives. In this chapter, we'll focus on using prepositions after adjectives and nouns.

Prepositions after adjectives

In Spanish, it's common to use prepositions after adjectives to connect ideas and give more detail. Let's look at some examples:

• Estoy feliz de verte (I am happy to see you)
• Estoy tired of trabajar (I'm tired of working)
• Estoy orgulloso de mi equipo (I'm proud of my team)

In all these examples, the preposition 'de' is used after an adjective to connect the adjective to a verb or noun. The choice of preposition depends on the adjective that precedes it. Some adjectives always go with certain prepositions, for example, 'content with', 'proud of', 'tired of', etc. It is important to memorize these combinations in order to use them correctly.

Prepositions after nouns

Prepositions are also used after nouns to indicate relationship, ownership, direction, and more. For example:

• La casa de mi abuela (My grandmother's house)
• El libro de español (The Spanish book)
• Voy a la escuela (I'm going to school)

Again, the choice of preposition depends on the noun that precedes it. Some nouns always go with certain prepositions, like 'amor por', 'necesidad de', 'interés en', etc. As with adjectives, it's important to memorize these combinations.

Most common prepositions

Here are some of the most common prepositions in Spanish and how they are used:

• From: indicates ownership, origin, material, among others. For example: 'El coche de Juan' (Juan's car), 'Soy de España' (I'm from Spain), 'Una mesa de madera' (A wooden table).
• A: indicates direction, time, and more. For example: 'Voy a Madrid' (I'm going to Madrid), 'Trabajo de 9 a 5' (I work from 9 to 5).
• En: indicates location, time, among others. For example: 'Vivo en Barcelona' (I live in Barcelona), 'Nací en 1990' (I was born in 1990).
• Con: indicates company, means, among others. For example: 'Voy con mi hermano' (I'm going with my brother), 'Escribo con un lápiz' (I write with a pencil).

It is important to note that prepositions in Spanish can have multiple meanings and uses, depending on the context. Therefore, the best way to learn prepositions is through lots of practice and exposure to the language.

Conclusion

In summary, prepositions are an essential part of Spanish and are used to connect words and express various relationships between them. The correct use of prepositions after adjectives and nouns can significantly improve your fluency in Spanish. Remember, the best way to learn prepositions is through lots of practice and exposure to the language. Happy learning!

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665.11. Use of Prepositions in Spanish: Common Mistakes in Using Prepositions